The Detroit Lions are coming off a stinging loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, November 2, and this one was extra painful because it was to the team’s arch NFC North rival. The game marked Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy‘s first game back after a five-game absence due to injury, and even though it wasn’t a blowout, the Vikings were able to squeak out a victory, with a 27-24 score, and bring their record up to 4-4. The loss took the Lions’ record down to 5-3.
From the Detroit Lions side of things, the game was clean, and no Lions were handed punishments by the NFL for actions taken in the Vikings contest. But, one Minnesota Vikings player is being punished for what he did during Sunday’s game.
Each week during the NFL’s regular season, the league officially announces penalizes for players for actions taken during the prior week’s games. The NFL states on their website that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity” and that “the NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed on a set of game-related rules violations that may result in accountability measures.”
Minnesota Vikings Player Didn’t Play Nice Against the Detroit Lions
On the league’s official website, the NFL says that these actions are “to protect players from unnecessary risk and preserve competitive balance and game integrity.” Now, the league has released its report for Week 9, and it includes a punishment for one Vikings player.
Minnesota running back Aaron Jones is being hit with a $23,186 fine for “unnecessary roughness” and “use of the helmet” during the game. At the time, he caught screen pass from McCarthy and snagged a first down, but after the run, he lowered his helmet and hit Lions safety Thomas Harper. That’s not cool.
So, Jones didn’t play nice, and the NFL didn’t let him get away with it. But, that $23,186 will go to a good cause, because the NFL states that “fines collected are donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels, including youth football and the communities that support the game.
To make the final decision on these punishments, the NFL states that “league staff members examine the plays identified as having potential infractions to determine whether there is cause for additional review.”
Looking Ahead to the Washington Commanders
When the Lions take on the Commanders on the road on Sunday, November 9, Detroit will be extra motivated to pull off a win for two reasons. For on, the team was upset by the Commanders in a 45-31 loss in last season’s divisional round, so there’s history. But, on top of that, the Lions just lost to the Vikings, so they’re looking for redemption in more ways than one.
The Commanders are struggling at this point in the season, and a big reason is because their franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels is sidelined with an injury. “The Commanders have three straight losses by 20-plus points, one loss shy of matching the longest such streak in franchise history,” ESPN Research notes.
Even though the Lions won’t have to go up against Daniels, they’ll have to face Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota. Daniels is out after dislocating his left elbow in a November 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
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